Shoes: Instant Expert by Linda O’Keeffe

Do women
know shoes? This question appears heretical at face value but it isn’t; it is a
given that women love shoes but do they really know them? As a generality men
know that women love shoes: looking at the faces of boyfriends and husbands
waiting (im)patiently on their girlfriends and spouses as the try on their 15th
pair during an afternoon of shopping is testament to the love affair that women
have with shoes but arguably they know less about footwear than they think they
do. Shoes: Instant Expert by Linda O’Keeffe remedies that within its tightly
bound 142 pages; the hardcover fits into palm of your hands and will deliver on
its promise to make you an expert almost instantly.

“This passion for shoes is justified
when considering the skill, creativity, and craftsmanship that go into their
production – the art of shoemaking makes these essentially utilitarian items
worthy of our enthusiasm and desire. The ancient skill of cobbling converts
formless materials into a beautifully proportioned piece of architecture that
acts as a second skin and strikes some as pure alchemy. Nowadays most shoes are
mass-produced by machines and computers, so shoes that show signs of
handcrafting are deservedly prized and coveted.” (Shoes: Instant Expert, p.7)

Starting
from the fundamentals – where styles, materials, anatomy and construction are
covered – to a discussion on customized and bespoke shoemakers before ending
with resources for learning more, Shoes: Instant Expert will ensure that you
come away knowing to clean and protect, maintain and alter as well as
accessorize.

Throughout
Linda O’Keeffe has succeeded in conveying a lot quickly and accessibly:

Different Leathers

The majority of women’s luxury
shoes are made from cow hide, but there are a number of other leathers that can
be used as well. The unique softness and pliability inherent in deer and elk
skins produce handsome and highly practical outdoor shoes, the nubby follicles
in ostrich skin lends a pronounced contour to formal shoe uppers; while
snakeskin lends texture and natural pattern to strappy sandals.